Chapter 132: The Birth of Hulk and the Super Soldier

"Are you really... sure you want to... cooperate with Senator Stern?"

While Betty was eagerly sucking and licking the American Root of Karn, she did not forget to question him about his partnership with Stern. In her view, Karn was once again making impulsive decisions on a whim. Their regenerative formula and Extremis serum had no shortage of investors; deciding to let Senator Stern in just like that made their products seem far too cheap.

Especially the latter—the Extremis serum was a crucial component for the stable production of the Super Soldier serum, and if it leaked, it would bring about considerable trouble. However, if Stern could genuinely deliver what he promised, the cooperation could proceed, but Betty worried that Stern's greed would prove boundless.

With twenty-seven percent of Oscorp's shares, combined with the thirty-eight percent of Osborn family shares that Karn could negotiate from Ross's side, they would be able to seize control of Oscorp.

"Of course, Betty. I am well aware of Stern's background and capabilities. They can indeed provide me with very useful things. Oscorp is merely a beginning; if the opportunity arises, I will gain access to far more precious treasures."

Karn slightly adjusted Betty's head, then looked down at her with a comfortable expression and spoke.

On Earth, the Hydra organization had access to two Infinity Stones. Karn had a decade at his disposal, and within these ten years, he needed to acquire at least one Infinity Stone for his research.

Although Oscorp had taken a hit from the military due to the human enhancement project, its subordinate arms manufacturing division remained formidable. After all, having been founded over thirty years ago, had Oscorp not recklessly accepted military contracts, it would sooner or later have evolved into the third-largest supplier for the American military.

"I... always feel that you should... consider this carefully..."

Betty's subsequent words did not make it out, because a large volume of milk had been coaxed out by her licking and swallowed down. To speak at that moment would only lead to choking. At first, Betty had been utterly resistant to such behavior, but after doing it often enough, she grew accustomed to it, save for a slightly aching jaw.

"Dearest Betty, I always feel that discussing this in the current setting is entirely inappropriate. Shall we talk about something else instead?"

The American Root was no joke. Even though Betty had finished drinking the milk only a short while ago, the American Root stood proud once more, soon sliding smoothly back into Betty's body.

"Talk about something else... mmm~"

Feeling the thrusts from below, Betty gradually began to experience pleasure once again, and soon she brought up another topic. "A while ago, Bruce... also accepted the military's invitation regarding... weapon manufacturing. I tried to persuade him... but he wouldn't listen."

"Is he trying to compete with me, Betty? It seems he still misses you."

"I'm not sure... I don't know..."

Seeing that Betty's consciousness was growing increasingly hazy, Karn supported her waist and devoted himself entirely to the rhythmic driving thrusts.

............

Karn spent a week in Washington, as numerous people wished to make his acquaintance—especially those introduced by Senator Stern. He had no idea how many Hydra agents were hidden among them, but the number was certainly not small.

However, they did manage to finalize the matter regarding Oscorp's shares. Karn also parted with a portion of his biopharmaceutical company's shares. Stern's people did not seize the opportunity to drive down the price; instead, they demonstrated genuine sincerity by devaluing the worth of Oscorp's shares accordingly.

Anyone with well-informed sources could discern the value of the Extremis serum. Their acquisition of a stake in Karn's biopharmaceutical company was not solely for financial gain, but also for the Extremis serum itself.

The serum was strictly controlled by Karn. Most of the researchers at the research center and Umbrella had been branded with Chakra Cursing Seals; acquiring the serum through corporate espionage would be no easy feat.

Stern showed immense sincerity in trying to win Karn over, even offering to treat him to high-end Japanese cuisine, though Karn lacked the appreciation for such things. If Stern had offered to let him look at the Tesseract, that would have been a different story.

Given Hydra's control over the regional branches of S.H.I.E.L.D., there was a genuine possibility they could smuggle the Tesseract out. Nick Fury's two superiors were both Hydra operatives, yet they seemed a tad too arrogant—how else could they let Nick Fury sit so securely in his position...

Upon returning to New York, Betty went to discuss the acquisition with the other members of Oscorp's board of directors. With Stern paving the way beforehand, coupled with Oscorp's current predicament... weathering the immediate crisis was one thing, but once Karn finished producing the Super Soldier serum, he intended to join forces with Ross and swallow Oscorp whole.

Before long, only the Pent Corporation would remain, and Oscorp would become a thing of the past.

...........

"Doctor, the gamma bomb is still not entirely stable and cannot be put into production."

An assistant reported to Bruce Banner. Their team had indeed made significant breakthroughs in gamma-ray research, but transforming it into a weapon would require a prolonged period of study.

Anything hastily manufactured could never be deployed in actual warfare. If they brought such a weapon to the battlefield, before the enemy even suffered, their own side would be wiped out by accidental detonations, turning them into the laughingstock of America.

"All of you head back. Tonight, I will try some other methods on my own."

Bruce Banner waved his hand, dismissing the other researchers for the evening. They had been working tirelessly for days, yet the results they obtained were far from satisfactory.

The research direction this time was flawed; they would likely have to recalculate the equations from scratch. Yet the people backing them clearly lacked such patience. With the Middle East campaign faltering, aggressively pursuing military development and human functional enhancement projects had become the consensus of all parties involved.

The gamma bomb Bruce Banner was researching served precisely this purpose.

"Gamma rays might have other stabilization methods. Let me try once more..."

Bruce Banner pondered thoughtfully for a moment, then stepped into the laboratory. However, upon entering, he frowned and muttered, "Why hasn't the requested equipment been delivered yet..."

For this experiment, he wanted to try a new fusion equation. The people behind him were pressing hard; he had to produce some results to appease them, even if it were merely a 'sample,' or else the experimental project would be canceled.

The future ought to be about military equipment races, and the human functional enhancement projects from decades ago should have been phased out long ago.

..............

"Boss, we have successfully replicated a batch of the serum. Would you like to come over and take a look? If there are no issues, should we proceed to the next step of human trials?"

While Karn was still resting, he suddenly received good news from Dr. Erskine.

A month had passed since he handed the Super Soldier serum composition data over to Erskine. With the answers practically laid out before him in an open-book test, producing a successful result did not surprise Karn in the least.

Perhaps it was even a bit slow; that fellow Ross was hounding him daily, wishing he could live inside Karn's biological research center just to await the debut of the Super Soldier serum product.

"I understand. I will come over this afternoon. If everything is in order, I will arrange for human trials."

After saying this to Erskine, Karn hung up the phone, then gently patted Betty's long, black-silk-clad legs protruding from beneath the blanket, briefing her on the matter.

Not long after returning from Washington, Betty had learned of this endeavor. She remained astonished by the speed at which Karn produced successful research; whether it was the Extremis serum or the Super Soldier serum—breakthroughs that proved agonizingly difficult for most human enhancement specialists—they seemed effortless to Karn.

By the time Karn and Betty arrived at the biological research center, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon. Security here had grown increasingly stringent, with personnel being rotated, upgraded, or reinforced at regular intervals.

Accompanying them were Betty's two bodyguards. If nothing unexpected happened, they would be among the very first human test subjects for the Super Soldier serum.

Upon seeing Karn, Erskine immediately brought out the experimental product to present and introduce it.

"This is it, Boss. We've run tests and simulations three times over, and we can essentially confirm the serum's efficacy. However, without... Captain America's sample, we cannot verify whether the serum's effects will match his precisely."

Karn nodded upon hearing this. In truth, Steve Rogers was not the only person who had been injected with the Super Soldier serum; among the Falcon and the Winter Soldier, there was also a Black man who had successfully received the serum, though he had suffered inhumane treatment and was now living in seclusion.

If they could acquire some of his blood as a comparative sample, Erskine would likely have even more data points, but human trials had already been requested to begin.

After reviewing the serum data in his hands, Karn turned to the two retired soldiers standing behind him and said, "Mr. Roff, Mr. Carlo, are you willing to accept this opportunity? I can guarantee a ninety percent success rate."

Such a success rate was merely Karn tossing out a casual fabrication. However, Roff and Carlo bore the Chakra Cursing Seals with the strongest effects and possessed the absolute highest loyalty to Karn, which was why he chose these two to test the Super Soldier serum.

"Of course we are willing, Boss."

The two men did not hesitate in the slightest and agreed in unison.

Karn then looked at Erskine, who immediately spoke up, "Boss, the equipment for the serum injection is fully prepared and can begin at any moment."

"It seems you are even more impatient than I am, Dr. Erskine."

After making a lighthearted remark, Karn followed Erskine to the human experimentation chamber. The first batch of samples consisted of precisely three doses of the serum. Arriving before the equipment, Carlo and Roff exchanged glances, and then Roff stepped forward, lying down upon the apparatus according to Erskine's instructions.

Erskine and his team immediately busied themselves. Although they had run numerous simulations, getting everything properly configured still took a considerable amount of time.

Once all preparations were complete, Karn pressed the injection button.

The serum was slowly infused into the experimental pod, and the computer clearly displayed the shifting physiological data of Roff's body.

Everything underwent violent transformation—muscle mass, bone density, heart rate, and more. Meanwhile, Roff endured immense agony within the pod; the Super Soldier serum was not something one could simply sleep through. No matter the form of human enhancement, one had to bear a substantial amount of pain.

"It's finished! It's a success!"

Looking at the feedback data on the computer screen, Erskine shouted joyfully. Roff's physical data was three times stronger than before, and this was merely his baseline resting state immediately following the successful injection, with his heart rate and other vital signs having returned completely to normal.

The very first Super Soldier under Karn's command had been born.